A Seasonal Update

Early in September, I made a deal with my husband. The deal was that I was going to purchase a bag and pair of boots that I was MADLY IN LOVE WITH (to the tune of a few hundred dollars-no small purchase understandably) and in exchange, I would not be purchasing another pair of shoes or bag until January 1, 2016 (you can bet your top and bottom dollar that I have a pair of shoes picked out for my new year purchase).

This deal was made in conjunction with a desire to have only things that I LOVE in my life. For me, it was a bit nerve wracking to think that I would not bring another bag or shoe into my wardrobe until the new year, but honestly, it's been freeing. Now, I don't even waste time looking at new bags/shoes because I feel really fulfilled with what I have. As an undiagnosed shopaholic, I'm very surprised to be sharing these words, but I think this could become a new way of life for me. I experienced the same feeling of freedom when I stopped eating meat and started purchasing only cruelty free products. When your choices are limited, it's so much easier to a. make a decision and b. stay on track with clear cut yes/no "rules".

Novel concept: buying 1 pair of shoes and 1 bag per season to freshen things up and to ensure you only buy what you love. I highly recommend giving it a try!

You're probably wondering what shoes and bag I grabbed, right?

Coach SHADOW Crossbody 

Donald J Pliner "Volt" Boot 

*Editor's Note: In the end I returned the boots. I loved them, but I had a really hard time pairing them with pants that I already own due to the higher piece of leather around the ankle in the front. With the whole philosophy of having only items that I love, I had to let them go. I loved them, but I wasn't going to wear them. In their place, I purchased a pair of custom Adidas sneakers that I will be sharing soon!

Tips for Scoring Expensive Looking Accessories on the Cheap

Eddie Borgo for Target white marble clutch, tassel charm, and pyramid charm

When I was younger, I used to play a game while at the grocery store with my parents. I would look at all the handbags on women and figure out if they were designer or knock offs. I was able to do this at middle school age and can still tell you if a bag is real or not. I've always had a knack for picking up the most expensive, luxurious item on a table or rack. That being said, I can spot expensive looking pieces even in the cheapest of stores.

This is a gift, people. (or a curse if you are married to me)

I love to receive compliments on pieces only to tell people that I grabbed something at Target or Forever 21. I've started to hone in on what I look for when selecting pieces at low end stores and I've compiled them for you here!

The key for me is to purchase items that read as "rich" without leaving me broke, so I'm going to use that term a lot when providing my tips below followed by a shopping guide of my under $150 accessory picks!

• When purchasing jewelry or pieces with hardware, opt for traditional metal coloring with gold as your #1 pick. Gold inherently looks richer and heavier and is easier to fake than silver and other metal finishes.
• When purchasing leather (or faux leather products) lean towards darker finishes. Black and darker tones tend to wear better and are easier to fake. I almost never purchase light colored leather and when I do, it must be real or from a reliable source. Light colored leather, real or faux, can easily be dirtied and stained, especially if you are a fan of dark denim which tends to bleed color onto accessories. 
• If you are going to purchase anything in faux patent leather, be sure to inspect the item for scratches or dull spots. Also be sure that there are no glue spots or smudges. I would definitely stick to only black patent leather and I would follow this guide for keeping it impeccably clean and shiny. 
• When buying jackets and bags, look for structure over slouch. It's much easier to fake quality when great structure is present. Slouchy silhouettes really shine in luxe, fluid fabrics which tend to be more expensive. 
• Avoid making online purchases unless you have honed your eye on details and can easily spot a quality piece by picture. I online shop all the time and even though I'm experienced, I'm positive that I pass up on pieces that must be gorgeous in person that I can't be sure of via picture. 
• Avoid purchasing items that are blatant copies of designer pieces. "Inspired by" can be a dangerous term. For example, chain strap purses were inspired by the Chanel 2.55 and can be found everywhere, but a rectangular quilted leather bag with a chain strap purse is a blatant 2.55 knockoff.
• Whenever I am brick and mortar shopping, I can be seen touching every single thing in the store. As a store manager, I hate that I am this way as a customer, but honestly a huge part of shopping for me is being able to handle an item. If something feels super soft, well made, buttery, or weighty, I may consider purchasing it. When touching objects, be care to use the back of your hand rather than your fingertips when grazing light colored fabrics and leathers or fur. Your fingertips may pass oils or dirt onto items, which is not great if you are only browsing. 
• My recommendation is to keep it simple regarding exotic looking skins, prints and patterns, and embellishment. It's very easy for too many details to read as cheap or overtly trendy. I would definitely stick to solid over print/pattern. I strongly recommend avoiding designer looking logoes and patterns unless you are purchasing the real deal (I am actually begging here). When purchasing embellished items, follow the same rules you would regarding jewelry. Look for sheen, lean towards gold, and go for heft rather than light/hollow details. When purchasing exotic skin look-alikes, be sure to stick to naturally occurring colors/sheens. Purple alligators are not found in nature, but brownish green ones likely are. 
• Don't be afraid to mix all of your pieces. I have been known to throw a Louis Vuitton wallet inside of an Old Navy tote bag. Having a few great investment pieces gives the illusion that all of your pieces are/could be high end. The key here is to leave everyone guessing wether or not your pieces cost you hundreds of dollars. 
• Lastly, you must treat your purchases like they are all high end. Clean your jewelry once in a while, remove scuffs from your shoes, and store your bags carefully. If a piece is looking to shabby or dirty, retire it-thats why you purchased a lower end item in the long run (this is not an investment pieces). 

Pay Day Priorities II

Last night, we had a date night and went to the mall and to see Jurassic World. It came as a surprise to both of us that I LOVED the movie. If you haven't seen it, you definitely should, but be prepared to sit through the whole movie in a stage of anxiety. 

We had a couple hours to kill before the movie started so we had dinner and did a bit of shopping. I grabbed a couple things, most notably the two pieces below. I'm quite happy with my purchases, which came in just under $95.

I stopped into the Coach store to check out their store redesign (which looks really high end and amazing) and happened upon these amulet earrings. For $60 I thought they were totally worth it and can't wait to wear them.

I ventured into Forever 21 (which was an absolute mad house) to score a cheapie outfit for 4th of July (unsuccessful) but I did find this (faux) leather quilted crossbody bag for about $30 on a shelf in the men's department and then invested 20 minutes on line at the register to purchase it. It looks and feels so much nicer than its price tag suggests, which I'm always a big fan of. 

Last Minute Christa-mas Gift Ideas

My lovely (procrastinator) husband is still on the hunt for a surprise gift idea for me. Since I have scouted and purchased all of my gifts thus far, he seems to think (at the prodding of his best friend) that he must locate and purchase a gift for me that I know nothing about. As the kind-hearted, and prepared wife that I claim to be, I have gathered this collection of items that could possibly serve as "surprise" gifts at a wide range of price points.

If all else fails, I'd love a few new diamonds! ;)

November Cravings

New month, new budget. For me, this month is all about affordable clothing pieces and investment accessories. I've always been more of a jewelry/beauty gal than a clothes horse, but the tide may be changing! I've been really into rounding out my closet and there's no indication that this mindset will be leaving any time soon!

Grown Up Friendship Bracelets

Recently, I've become obsessed with and inspired by Katherine Power, co-founder of WhoWhatWear, Domaine Home, and Byrdie Beauty. From what I can tell from stalking her instagram she frequently wears Monica Vinader's Baja chain bracelet (starting at $315) in the grey agate. While I feel more drawn to the Lapis in gold, there's no denying how gorgeous and wearable this piece is! Honestly, my hardest choice here is deciding which color I need. 

Edie Parker

What we have here is the new Judith Leiber. Where Lieber delivered with a myriad of bejeweled sculpted clutches, Edie Parker picks up with glitter infused acrylic. Parker steps in at a more affordable price (which is still way outside of my clutch budget)-at around $1,200 for a classic clutch and $1,595 for a bespoke clutch (think initials, full name, hashtag, etc). This line was launched after founder, Brett Hyman could no longer find the vintage acrylic clutches that she had been purchasing for years. Recently, Britt has teamed up with the Mount Sinai Parenting Center to donate 10% of proceeds from the sales of two of her pieces. If I didn't already love these bags, that would be a major selling point for me! Check out Edie Parker on Instagram for fun behind-the-scenes shots!

10% of proceeds from the sale of this clutch will be donated to the Mount Sinai Parenting Center in NYC! 

3D

At some point, Amazon recently launched a 3D print shop on their webstore, without telling me. If you ever read this blog, you know that I'm a jewelry whore, so I'm in love with the whole Jewelry category of this 3D shop. While other blogs [Fashionista] feel that the offerings aren't very on trend or stylish, I find them to be  very architectural/cool and reasonably priced, which is right up my alley. I also love the objets found in the Home Decor store are pretty damn cool!

Goldplated Metal "Circles" Bracelet $175

'Create Your Own' Personalized Metal Cufflinks $60

Little Bloom Ring $19

Goldplated Metal "Studs" Ring $90

FRENDS x BaubleBar

"Obsessed" is not even the word here, "dying for" is more like it! My life has no meaning until these black headphones are mine! #wah

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Black and Gold FRENDS x BaubleBar Headphones $175

White and  Rose Gold FRENDS x BaubleBar 
Headphones $175

All Images via BaubleBar.com

Lariat

I've always loved lariat necklaces. My grandmother had one that she often wore while I was growing up and like most women, I can't help my attraction to styles that I saw on my early life style informers. I've started to see this style popping up on my Instagram feed and in various other places on the internet.

As a very busty woman, I envy the less endowed ladies that can wear the long thin versions down to their belly buttons, but envy will get me nowhere. This is a style that I previously thought was closed to me, but I've found that plenty of shorter, still gorgeous styles out there!

Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

ofakind.com

My best friend, who is always on the forefront of what is happening suggested this website to me. Considering she knows me better than anyone (this pretty much includes my husband), I LOVE it!

ofakind.com is a website that offers limited edition runs of jewelry, apparel, accessories, and housewares. I live for Target's always on-point collaborations, but sometimes I just crave an item that I know I won't see on every woman I pass, which is why I'm such a huge fan of the limited edition concept. I fall in love with random products on a near daily basis, and I'm hoping you'll see all of those love affairs on this page for many days to come, but I am SO excited by this website that I lost count of how many items I'm lusting after. 

The site is beautifully designed and the products are expertly curated and I love that the price points are a bit higher. To me, the higher price point not only ensures that you spring for the item that you want, but it also makes that item feel so much more special, than say a $35 skirt that you'll wear twice.